

"The software and router will never replace all of our artistic abilities, but it certainly tackles the more mundane tasks around the studio, making us much more efficient and therefore more profitable,” says Bill Hamilton, Northcoast Signworks’ head craftsman. Once a design is created it can be milled in several different sizes by simply scaling the design elements and creating new tool path files. Combined with classic techniques like carving, gilding and hand painting, auto-sculpting software represents a new direction for signmakers who want to create powerful images that influence viewer perception.īesides creating upscale signage that adds revenues to your company’s bottom line, auto-sculpting software can also save time and money.ĭesigns can be loaded and routers can be programmed to produce 100 identical signs, for example, whereas 2-D machining would require carving them one by one.Īs with any software, once the template is created, you can produce unlimited numbers of sign components with the touch of a button days, months or even years later. The result is realistic effects - even on sign foam.
CNC RELIEF CARVING SOFTWARE FULL
Auto-sculpting software with its full range of motion produces realistic wood grain looks on various materials.Īuto-sculpting software allows you to create impressive, high quality products starting from 2-D bitmap or vector-based artwork. True, sandblasting gives a realistic wood grain look on wood, but it does not work as well on sign foam or other futuristic materials, such as polystyrene foam, acrylic, Medex, aluminum, and other millable plastics.

Auto-sculpting software, also called modeling software, allows you to easily transform 2-D drawings into 3-D relief carvings, giving signs a true hand-carved look.Īuto-sculpting software allows the craftsman to apply realistic textures to the sign’s background. Most routers on the market today are capable of doing intricate 3-D milling. Auto-sculpting software allows full control over all three axes of the router, allowing range of motion that can lead to 3-D design work limited only by the imagination of the craftsman. There is also 2 1/2-D that gives you limited control over the third axis for specific engraving functions. There is the traditional 2-D that is designed for cutting out material. Most router software controls the machine in one of two ways. So what can you do with auto-sculpting software that you cannot do with your 2-D set up? Lots. While 2-D and 2 1/2 -D are still the staple of any sign shop, you can take your business to new heights with next-generation software and tools designed to produce more sophisticated signage. Auto-sculpting software allows signmakers to produce complicated three-dimensional (3-D) models that give your work greater visual impact and greater value.
